'Never since the Black Death has such a plague swept over the face of the world,' commented the Times , '[and] never, perhaps, has a plague been more stoically accepted.' When the Great Influenza pandemic finally ended, in April 1919, 228,000 people in Britian alone were dead. This book tells the story of the Great Influenza pandemic.

MARK HONIGSBAUM is a journalist and author based in London. Specializing in the science and history of disease his work appears in the Guardian, the Observer and the Financial Times. His previous books include The Fever Trail: In Search of the Cure for Malaria, and Valverde's Gold: In Search of the Last Great Inca Treasure, which was the Critics' Choice selection in the Daily Mail. www.markhonigsbaum.co.uk.

'In this book Mark Honigsbaum shows how the history of medicine can inform policymaking today.' - Times Online

'Read this book to understand what happened to a country caught up in both a war and a disease that killed millions worldwide, led by variously competent civil servants whose responses, or lack of them, have some worrying parallels with UK pandemic plans today.' - New Scientist

'Journalist Mark Honigsbaum's new book offers a vivid account of the pandemic. It reflects on what could have been done to avert the disaster and what should be done about future pandemics.' - Nature

'A chastening read, but mercifully level-headed' - Financial Times

'Very informative and easy to read' - Irish Times

'The book is at its most powerful when it links the events at home in Britain to those on the war front that formed the backdrop to the three waves of the pandemic' - British Medical Journal

'The book succeeds in its aims and is especially recommended for its recovery of the public and medical experience, for its reflections on popular memory, and for its innovative interweaving of past, present and future...The great strength and originality of the book is the way it captures the everyday experience of the disease, from the suffering and neglect of the poor, to the care given to the prime minister, David Lloyd George.' - Michael Worboys, BBC History Magazine

'...a vivid account of the pandemic.' - Michael Sargent, Nature

'...[a] wonderfully evocative narrative...It is to Honigsbaum's credit that he so seamlessly interweaves the scientific and the social history of influenza. His volume teaches us much about the virus and reminds us why influenza is still much in the news.' - The Lancet

'...a timely warning of what could be around the corner. It's difficult to encourage people to buy books that are going to depress them - but this should be the exception to the rule.' - popularscience.co.uk

'I read this book at a great pace. The frequent use of first hand accounts gives it a welcome human dimension...I recommend it to anyone who doubts the seriousness of the pandemic flu threat and who has a critical interest in the actions taken by government in our name.' - Patrick Nicholson, Peace News